*
KOSPI flat, foreigners net buyers
*
Korean won little changed against dollar
*
South Korea benchmark bond yield rises
*
For the midday report, please click SEOUL, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean
financial markets:
** South Korean shares closed almost flat on Thursday,
recouping most of their early losses as index heavyweight
battery makers advanced. The Korean won ended little changed,
while the benchmark bond yield rose.
** The benchmark KOSPI closed 2.12 points, or 0.09%,
lower at 2,481.52, after falling as much as 0.69% earlier in the
session.
** "A wait-and-see mood prevailed with investors' focus now
set on U.S. inflation data due next week," said Mirae Asset
Securities analyst Seo Sang-young, adding that investors were
seen locking in profits amid few upside drivers for the index.
** Chipmakers and online platform operators fell in line with their U.S. tech peers. Technology giant Samsung Electronics slipped 0.16% and peer SK Hynix lost 0.53%.
** Search engine Naver slid 0.22%. Instant
messenger Kakao reversed early losses and ended
2.60% higher, while its financial service affiliates Kakaobank and Kakaopay dropped 2.84% and 1.58%,
respectively.
** Battery maker LG Energy Solution advanced
0.73%, while its parent LG Chem rose 1.19%. Peers
Samsung SDI and SK Innovation ended up
1.10% and 2.24%, respectively.
** Of the total 934 issues traded, 365 shares advanced.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 148.1 billion
won ($117.48 million).
** The won ended onshore trade at 1,260.4 per dollar, 0.02% lower than its previous close at 1,260.1.
** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year
treasury bonds fell 0.23 point to 104.46.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield
rose by 6.3 basis points to 3.406%, while the benchmark 10-year
yield rose by 5.4 basis points to 3.376%.
($1 = 1,260.6700 won)
(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
